In its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects - relative to the 1986-2005 baseline climatology - higher mean surface temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and changes in other climate attributes, accompanied by changes in the patterns, magnitude, duration and intensity of extreme events.

The nuclear energy sector will be affected by these changes in many ways. Higher mean ambient air temperatures will reduce the efficiency of thermal conversion, leading to less output from the same capacity. Higher air and water temperatures will reduce cooling efficiency, increasing the demand for water diversion for cooling purposes. Lower precipitation will decrease the amount and increase the temperature of water available for cooling. Warm spells with higher temperature conditions lasting longer will exacerbate the decline of conversion efficiency and increase the cooling challenge. Longer and more intense drought conditions will add to these problems.

This presentation will assess the full range of potential climate change impacts and adaptation options in the global nuclear energy sector. Special emphasis is given to impacts and adaptation options of extreme weather events under a gradually changing climate regime that are likely to affect the safe operation and the overall safety of nuclear power plants. Hard (technical and technological) and soft (institutional and procedural) measures are assessed to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the safety of nuclear plants with a view to changing climatic and extreme weather conditions over their long operating time period.